Governors of Edo, Kwara, Abia, Ondo and Osun states on Saturday promised better welfare for Nigerian children in their domain as Nigeria joined the world to mark the 2023 edition of Children’s Day.
This year’s celebration had the theme, ‘Investing in our future means investing in our children’.
Similarly, the outgoing First Lady, Aisha Buhari, in a statement also urged children to be patriotic and steer clear of drug abuse.
“We want you to support your nation by shying away from drugs,” Buhari said at a Children’s Day celebration organised by the Presidential Transition Council at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Buhari, who was represented by the wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila, urged children to be contributors to nation-building and to shy away from drug abuse.
Earlier, the President, Major General Muhammadu (retd.), hosted about 40 children at the Council Chamber of the State House.
In Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reforms that would ensure that children in the state could compete favourably with their peers across the globe.
He said, “Every Children’s Day presents another opportunity for us to celebrate those that we cherish and those who hold the brightest prospects for our future – our children.
“As a government, we will prioritise expanding facilities in healthcare, education, and other vital sectors, ensuring that the children of Edo can compete favourably with their peers across the globe.”
He noted that over 300,000 children were benefiting from the state Basic Education Sector Transformation Initiative, adding that the programme had been expanded to integrate secondary and tertiary institutions across the state.
In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Children’s Day rekindled hope in the Nigerian child, as he said that his administration would continue to invest in their future.
He added, “To all of you, I restate the commitment of our administration to continue to invest in your future and bequeath to you a community that draws good energy from its rich diversity and is conducive to your growth and peaceful living. It is not a coincidence that we flagged off our premium education programme, KwaraLEARN, around this time last year to offer you qualitative, tech-enabled education that is delivered in a more conducive environment and by competent hands.”
Also, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, said every child deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive in a safe environment.
In Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu advised the incoming governor, Dr Alex Otti, to prioritise children’s education. This was as a former governor of the state and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, cautioned against child abuse and other social vices.
The governor described them as “resilient, strong, brilliant and innovative, assuring them that their future remains bright and urged them to continue to toe the path of hard work and honesty.
Similarly, Kalu urged governments at all levels to uphold the Child Rights Act, stressing that children are leaders of tomorrow.
In Ondo State, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) vowed to continue protecting the rights of children of the state.
Akeredolu said his administration had done a lot for the development of children of the state, which included the passage and enforcement of the Ondo State Child’s Rights Law and the creation of a budget line for funding children in the state.
Represented at the march-past and cultural parade of school children to celebrate the Day in Akure by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr Bamidele Ologun, the governor said the government had been tackling terrorism, rape, rituals, kidnaps through Amotekun Corps and other security agencies.
“Parents and guardians are hereby enjoined to support or complement all children’s life-saving initiatives of the government, while the children themselves have the obligation to be responsible for and responsive to their future achievements,” he added.
In Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke demanded the protection of the rights of children, noting that priority must also be given to the basic needs of the younger generation to guarantee a better future for society.
Adeleke spoke on Saturday at the Osogbo City Stadium, where pupils across the state gathered to mark the event.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, said, “Issues like drug abuse, child labour, sexual exploitation, child abduction, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, high prevalence of school dropout, especially girl child school dropout that are intricate challenges confronting and militating against child protection and development in our society must be well addressed.
“We must ensure that the basic human rights of our children are well protected and entrenched in their development, their education, health, shelter, clothing and feeding are well prioritised to ensure the achievement of a non-chaotic and egalitarian society of the future we all clamor to have.”
In Bauchi State, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, assured children that the Assembly would do everything possible to enforce laws that protect them from being exploited, while advocating for policies that prevent them from being forced into marriage.
Suleiman, who is also the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, said in his message, “The Bauchi State House of Assembly remains resolute in the total elimination of these challenges and in protecting the rights and well-being of every child. We pledge to continue prioritizing resources to improve education infrastructure, train and empower teachers, and provide essential learning materials.”
Northern women speak
Notable northern women leaders also harped on the importance of educating a girl child, adding that such would ensure rapid development in the region and the country at large.
The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment Programme, Maryam Uwais; the first female lawyer in northern Nigeria to own a chamber, Fatima Kwaku; Secretary-General of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Saudatu Mahdi; and the first female president of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, called for resilience and confidence towards attaining success.
The speakers made this disclosure during a webinar with the theme, ‘Girl Power: Defying all odds, stories of Northern Nigerian women leaders’, organised by Adda Girl Education Foundation in commemoration of Children’s Day.
Uwais urged participants drawn from primary to tertiary levels to expand their scope of learning.
She added, “Embrace positive learning, research on various subjects especially in your areas of interest so that you can learn how people tackled their problems. Develop resilience and confidence; nobody knows it all. Seek to help other girls in your communities. Education will help you in your marriages.”
Anambra decries abuse
Meanwhile, the Anambra State government has raised concern over the increasing rate of child beggars and hawkers in the state. It has therefore threatened to arrest and prosecute parents and guardians who engage children in such acts.
The state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, said the measure would ensure the survival, development and protection of every child in the state and also serve as a deterrent to parents and guardians.
She reminded parents and guardians that the use of children for domestic labour, negligence and maltreatment contradict the tenets of the Child Rights Law, adding that the ministry was ready to arrest erring parents.
She added, “The rate of children hawking and begging on our streets, the rate of child sexual abuse, trafficking and maltreatment in the state has become alarming.”
